The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-09-10
IN A TRAP.
An Adventure with Three Indians
and Two Bears.

had been camped for a month in
the Wind River Mountains, Wyoming,
near the headwaters of Green River,
before 1 got an Indian alarm. 1 had
come up from Fort Bridger with a pack
mule and plenty of traps and pro-
visions, and by travelling mostly at
night and taking every pains to hide
my trail had escaped the attention of
the redskins. Having gained the up
per end of the valley, l found safe
spot for the mule and plenty of game
for my traps. For the first two weeks
did not discharge my rifle once. l
was trapping for fur, and what fresh
meat needed l killed with the bow
and arrow. In twenty-five days 1 had
a mule load of furs. | had but to set
my traps and wait little. 1t must
have been years since any one had
hunted or trapped in that valley, for
the hares would scarcely run away,
and on three or four occasions black
tailed deer stopped at half pistol shot
and gazed at me as if they had never
seen a human being before.
The discovery which so vexed and
alarmed me was made early in the
morning. l had my camp close in to
the base of the mountains on the east
side of the valley. while the mule was
hidden on the west side, about opposite
had inclosed him in about half an
acre of ground, on which there was a
spring, by building up light brush
fence and by hopping him, and it had
been my custom to visit him at least
every other day. My furs were stored
in a cave forty rods above my camp as
fast as accumulated, and l had
neglected no precaution which expert
ence could suggest. Each morning it
was my custom TO climb to ledge of
rocks overhanging my camp and take
a careful survey of the valley through
field glass which l had carried for
years. On this occasion had scarcely
turned the glass down the valley when
l discovered three Indians, each
mounted, and pack horse following.
They were not in war dress, but three
bucks who had come into the valley on
the same errand as myself
was boiling mad over the advent of
my visitors. All my luck was gone in
moment, and l might consider it a
great stroke of fortune if / got out
alive, and left them my mule and furs.
The fellows were ten miles away when
first sighted them, and | had little
time to reflect on my course. They
would certainly come up the valley as
high as my camp, and it was certain
that | would have to move. The idea
of giving up all l had gained and
sneaking off empty-handed was too re-
pugnant to be acted on, and after had
spent ten minutes watching the trio, l
descended the ledge with firm deter
miDation not to leave the valley. / had
not yet lighted fire to prepare my
breakfast. gathered up all the brands,
covered the ashes with leaves and dirt,
and worked for quarter of an hour to
obliterate all signs of the camp. Ny
furs in the cave must take their chances.
1t was a well hidden spot, and the In
dians might or might not discover it.
My destination was a gulch or canyon,
mile further up the valley, and on
my side of it. l had twice passed the
entrance, but had never explored the
gulch. 1t doubtless contained some
hiding place or point of advantage,
and would be forced to seek shelter
until knew what the Indians purposed
doing.
The redskins were coming up the
valley at a slow pace, and had entered
the gulch half an hour before they were
opposite my camp. Standing at the
mouth of the gulch 1 could see them
very plainly. From their movements l
judged they had never been in the val
ley before, or at least not as high
up. While they were not looking
for signs of white men, and had
no suspicious of my presence, their
hawk-eyes soon made discovery.
They ran on to footprint, an over
turned stone, or some other proof of
the presence of a human being, and a
moment later they swerved across the
valley and entered the very thicket
where my mule was concealed. l was
in for it now. The discovery of the
mule would put them on to me, and the
three hunters after game would be-
come three warriors after my scalp. l
instantly abandoned all hope of saving
any of my property and started off up
the gulch to make my escape through
the range.
1t was rough, dark place ] had got
into. In no place was the rift over ten
feet wide, while it narrowed here and
there to four or five. Its sides were
almost perpendicular, and l had not
gone over three hundred feet before /
came 10 the end 1t was what is known